Articles

Hazel Dickens—Only A Woman Reprinted from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine February 1982, Volume 16, Number 8 Author’s Note: I had been a fan of Hazel Dickens, her singing, her songs, and her seeming politics for a decade before I actually met her in late 1978 when she came to a concert by my band (true-to-form supporting…

In the early part of the new century, Bill Emerson was not as active in musical pursuits as he had been since he first picked up a banjo in the mid-1950s.  When he did decide to get back to recording and performing music, he called on Wayne Taylor, Pat White, and Joe Wheatley—all from the…

Rooted in Tradition Photo By Michael Carter As banjo player for the 2020 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) “Entertainer of the Year” group, Sister Sadie, Britt describes her music as “rooted in tradition with a contemporary edge,” much like Britt herself. She was first introduced to clogging through her grandfather, William “Son” Britt, a square-dance caller,…

He’s Got It In Him Photos Courtesy of Teresa Ellis The last few years of Wyatt Ellis’ young life have been remarkable in several different ways. Before the pandemic he was spending upwards of three hours a day shuttling between Boy Scouts, Taekwon-Do, soccer practice, and squeezing in a weekly 30-minute mandolin lesson: pretty much…

Showers Empathy in Her Music Esteemed bluegrass singer Dale Ann Bradley shares stories of hardship and hope on her latest project, Things She Couldn’t Get Over. Growing up in the isolated country of rural Eastern Kentucky, Bradley knows all too well the struggles of life.  “There wasn’t a lot of money at all. I’ve carried…

It just makes sense that the finest musical instruments would be comprised of premier quality parts assembled and crafted by experienced luthiers, and that’s the foundation of Bradford and Company’s Hawthorn™ brand of instruments. If retired lawyer Glenn Bradford can’t find a particular part that meets his quality standards he will make it himself or…